Sharing the Gospel: Words, Grace, and Love
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Grace Church! Today, we delved into the topic of evangelism, focusing on how we can effectively share the gospel with those who have yet to trust Jesus as their Savior. We began by reflecting on the joy of worship and the significance of Jesus' resurrection, which should fill us with an unshakeable joy. I shared a personal story about my journey in evangelism, emphasizing the importance of both verbal and non-verbal methods in sharing our faith.
We explored the debate around different evangelism styles—whether it should be bold and direct or more relational and non-verbal. I argued that while actions and relationships are crucial, the gospel inherently requires words. The Greek word for gospel, "euangelion," means "good news," which implies a verbal message. I shared my own conversion story, highlighting how my uncle's loving and merciful approach opened my heart to the gospel.
We then turned to Colossians 4:2-6, where Paul instructs us to devote ourselves to prayer, live with integrity, and let our conversations be full of grace and seasoned with salt. This means our speech should be distinct, reflecting the transformation in our hearts. We discussed practical ways to ensure our conversations are guided by grace, such as thinking before we speak, avoiding arguments, and being quick to listen.
I also shared examples of how Christian rappers like Lecrae and D1 live out their faith in a winsome way, attracting others to Jesus through their character and speech. We concluded by emphasizing that our words should be spoken with love, always ready to give an answer for the hope we have, but with gentleness and respect.
The bottom line is that when our daily conversations reflect God's grace, we earn the right to clearly share Christ. So, how winsome a witness are you? Do your words and actions lead others to question your faith and seek Jesus?
### Key Takeaways
1. The Necessity of Words in Evangelism: While actions and relationships are vital, the gospel inherently requires verbal communication. The Greek word "euangelion" means "good news," implying a message that must be spoken. Therefore, we should be prepared to share the gospel verbally, as it is essential for conveying the message of salvation. [39:52]
2. The Power of Grace in Conversations: Our speech should be guided by grace, reflecting the transformation in our hearts. This means avoiding unwholesome talk and instead speaking words that build others up. Kindness and grace in our conversations can make a significant impact, especially in a world filled with crudeness and rudeness. [48:29]
3. Seasoning Our Speech with Salt: Just as salt preserves and creates thirst, our words should preserve the truth and create a thirst for Jesus. This means our speech should be wholesome, gracious, and attractive, drawing others to the gospel. Living a "salty" life means standing out in a way that makes others curious about our faith. [55:12]
4. The Role of Love in Evangelism: Our words should be spoken with love, always ready to give an answer for the hope we have, but with gentleness and respect. This approach not only reflects Christ but also opens doors for meaningful conversations about faith. Love should be the driving force behind our evangelism efforts. [59:24]
5. Practical Guidelines for Graceful Conversations: Think before you speak or post, avoid picking fights, be quick to listen, and don't be afraid to admit when you don't know something. These practical steps can help ensure that our conversations are guided by grace and seasoned with salt, making our witness more effective and winsome. [51:58]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[37:05] - Introduction and Shoutout to Malia
[38:08] - Personal Story on Evangelism
[39:07] - Different Styles of Evangelism
[39:52] - The Necessity of Words in Evangelism
[41:05] - Personal Testimony of Coming to Faith
[44:13] - How to Reflect Christ in Our Speech
[45:30] - Colossians 4:2-6 Reading
[46:28] - Addressing False Teachings
[47:34] - Living a Public Faith
[48:29] - Guided by Grace
[51:58] - Practical Guidelines for Graceful Conversations
[55:12] - Seasoned with Salt
[59:24] - Spoken with Love
[01:00:56] - The Simplicity of Sharing Jesus
[01:02:21] - The Power of Jesus' Name
[01:04:02] - How Winsome a Witness Are You?
[01:12:06] - Invitation to Prayer and Salvation
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Colossians 4:2-6 (NIV): "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Colossians 4:2-6, what are the key instructions Paul gives to believers regarding their speech and behavior towards outsiders?
2. In the sermon, what personal story did Pastor Kareem share to illustrate the impact of loving and merciful evangelism? [41:05]
3. What does the Greek word "euangelion" mean, and why is it significant in the context of evangelism? [39:52]
4. How did Pastor Kareem describe the behavior of the evangelist he encountered in the park, and what was the outcome of that evangelist's approach? [53:35]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the need for conversations to be "full of grace" and "seasoned with salt" in Colossians 4:6? How does this relate to the effectiveness of evangelism?
2. How did Pastor Kareem's uncle's approach to evangelism differ from the confrontational style, and what was the result of his loving approach? [41:52]
3. What does it mean for our speech to be "seasoned with salt," and how can this create a thirst for Jesus in others? [55:12]
4. How can the examples of Christian rappers like Lecrae and D1 serve as models for living out faith in a winsome way? [56:34]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own conversations. Are they typically full of grace and seasoned with salt? What specific changes can you make to ensure your speech reflects Christ more effectively? [45:30]
2. Think about a recent interaction where you had the opportunity to share your faith. How did you approach it, and what could you have done differently to be more winsome and loving? [59:24]
3. Pastor Kareem mentioned the importance of thinking before speaking or posting online. Can you recall a time when you spoke or posted something you later regretted? How can you apply this guideline in future interactions? [51:58]
4. Consider the role of prayer in evangelism as highlighted in Colossians 4:2-3. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your efforts to share the gospel?
5. Pastor Kareem shared a story about his uncle's loving approach leading him to Christ. Is there someone in your life who needs to experience the love and mercy of Jesus through you? How can you reach out to them this week? [41:52]
6. How can you be a "salty" Christian in your workplace or community, making others curious about your faith? What practical steps can you take to stand out in a positive way? [55:51]
7. Reflect on the idea of being quick to listen and slow to speak. How can you practice active listening in your conversations about faith, and why is this important? [52:30]
Devotional
Day 1: The Necessity of Words in Evangelism
Evangelism is not just about living a good life or being a kind person; it requires the verbal proclamation of the gospel. The Greek word for gospel, "euangelion," means "good news," which inherently implies a message that must be spoken. While actions and relationships are crucial in building trust and opening doors for conversation, the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ needs to be communicated through words. This verbal sharing of the gospel is essential for conveying the message of salvation and inviting others to trust in Jesus as their Savior. [39:52]
Romans 10:14-15 (ESV): "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you intentionally share the gospel with them this week, using both your actions and your words?
Day 2: The Power of Grace in Conversations
Our speech should be guided by grace, reflecting the transformation in our hearts. This means avoiding unwholesome talk and instead speaking words that build others up. In a world filled with crudeness and rudeness, kindness and grace in our conversations can make a significant impact. When our words are seasoned with grace, they reflect the love and mercy of Christ, making our witness more effective. This approach not only honors God but also attracts others to the gospel. [48:29]
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV): "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent conversations. How can you ensure that your words are filled with grace and kindness, especially in challenging situations?
Day 3: Seasoning Our Speech with Salt
Just as salt preserves and creates thirst, our words should preserve the truth and create a thirst for Jesus. This means our speech should be wholesome, gracious, and attractive, drawing others to the gospel. Living a "salty" life means standing out in a way that makes others curious about our faith. When our conversations are seasoned with salt, they not only preserve the truth but also make others want to know more about the hope we have in Christ. [55:12]
Colossians 4:6 (ESV): "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: Think about your daily interactions. How can you make your speech more "salty" in a way that draws others to Christ and makes them curious about your faith?
Day 4: The Role of Love in Evangelism
Our words should be spoken with love, always ready to give an answer for the hope we have, but with gentleness and respect. This approach not only reflects Christ but also opens doors for meaningful conversations about faith. Love should be the driving force behind our evangelism efforts, ensuring that our message is not only heard but also felt. When we speak with love, we mirror the heart of Jesus, making our witness more compelling and authentic. [59:24]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Consider someone you know who is skeptical about Christianity. How can you approach them with love and respect, sharing the hope you have in a way that is gentle and inviting?
Day 5: Practical Guidelines for Graceful Conversations
Think before you speak or post, avoid picking fights, be quick to listen, and don't be afraid to admit when you don't know something. These practical steps can help ensure that our conversations are guided by grace and seasoned with salt, making our witness more effective and winsome. By following these guidelines, we can create an environment where others feel safe to explore faith and ask questions, ultimately leading them closer to Jesus. [51:58]
James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Reflect on your communication habits. What is one specific change you can make today to ensure your conversations are more graceful and reflective of Christ's love?
Quotes
1. "There's a popular saying out there these days, and maybe some of you are familiar with it, and it goes like this. It pretty much says, preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words. Some of you have heard that before, I'm sure. But if you don't mind, I'm going to give a little pushback on that slogan just a little bit this morning, because I believe it's somewhat misleading. Because in the New Testament, the Greek word for gospel is euangelion, eu meaning good, and galion meaning message or news. And so... If evangelism is the act of giving a verbal witness to good news, then the slogan before mention actually should be said like this, preach the gospel at all times, and since it's necessary, use words." [39:52] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You see, when our zeal for evangelism causes us to ignore kindness and ignore mercy and ignore loving others, then we're not preaching. We're not preaching the gospel. We're just pretty much getting in the gospel's way, but when the word of the gospel is seasoned with genuine love for others, people stop seeing us and they start seeing Jesus, which brings me to our subject for today's text. We've been studying this passage for several weeks now, and the question that we're going to raise and tackle this morning is this, how do we speak the gospel in ways that truly reflect Christ to the world?" [43:19] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You see, I don't know if you know it or not, but ladies and gentlemen, people are watching you every single day of your life, especially when you come out and you proclaim the name of Jesus. People are always watching you, especially when you go public with your faith. Someone, you know, some of us are living camouflaged lives instead of coming out publicly for our faith. There's a story told about the young man who was leaving church one day, and as he's leaving the church, he happened to be, the preacher was standing at the door greeting people as they walked out, and this young man was trying to avoid shaking hands with the preacher, but the preacher spotted him and he called him over. He says, young man, he says, when are you going to finally join the army of the Lord? And the young man said, well, I already have joined the army of the Lord, pastor. The pastor said, well, if you already joined the army of the Lord, then why do I only see you on Christmas and Easter? The young man whispered back, because I'm in the secret service. He says, I'm in the secret service." [47:34] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Paul tells us that that sort of evil and that sort of malice and callousness is nowhere fitting in the life of followers of Jesus Christ, because with the world, they should hear something different from us, especially of those of us who claim the name of Jesus. This means our speech should be different from the vulgar speech of some of our friends. Come on, somebody. Our words should be different from crooked and crude politicians. We need to stand out in the darkness by being beacons of light, especially with the words that we choose. There ought to be a sweet savory to our speech, because we've been saved by grace. That's pretty much what Paul is saying. And if we've been saved by grace, then we need to model this grace in our everyday lives. In our everyday conversations with outsiders." [49:32] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Paul's point here is as followers of Jesus Christ and communicators of the gospel, our speech should be so wholesome, so gracious, and so attractive that it would not only preserve our culture from decay, but it will whet the world's appetite for Jesus if we live salty lives for his glory. And so the question is, is this who you are? Does this typify your life? Do you attract other people to Jesus or do you repel people away? What are you known for on your job? Are you known as a gossiper or are you known as a safe place where people can come and ask you questions about God, ask you questions about Jesus Christ or spirituality? Do you draw people in? How salty a saint are you?" [55:51] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You don't have to be a perfectionist in the way that you share your faith, and you don't have to have a formula for telling people about Jesus. Just tell them about Jesus. As the Holy Spirit uses your life and your witness to open up the door for you to share, we speak clearly about Jesus. That's all you need to do, because there's something about that name. Amen? There's something about that name. There's power in the name of Jesus. Demons tremble at the name of Jesus. Come on, somebody. Chains break at the name of Jesus. Healing comes in the name of Jesus. Salvation is found in no other name other than the name Jesus. Is there anybody out there who can testify of what he's done for you? Amen? Truly is all about Jesus. He's the reason we sing. He's the reason we celebrate. He's the source of our joy and strength." [01:02:21] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And when we see, the world sees the level of joy that we have that flows from a life that's not just a matter of faith, but a life that's been redeemed from the curse of sin, it creates a hunger and a thirst for that same satisfaction and joy that can only be found in Jesus. And so if they don't see him in you, where are they going to find him? If they don't hear him from you, where are they going to go? God calls us, you and me, to be salt on the earth and a radiant light in darkness. And so the bottom line to this message is this, when our daily conversations reflect God's grace, we then earn the right to clearly share Christ." [01:03:00] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "How winsome a witness are you? Do people know you on the job for standing out, or do you just blend in and become camouflaged with the rest of them? How is your speech? Would they describe you? With your speech as somebody who is careful what they say, as gracious, or are you known to spread lies and gossip like everybody else? If Jesus were to search your social media profile and your timeline, would he be pleased or would he be repulsed? When was the last time your words and actions led to questions about your faith? How winsome a witness are you?" [01:04:02] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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